Gardening
Evergreening Your Garden, With Not A Pine Needle In Sight
What if a genius landed in your garden, but, only stayed a couple of days? Last week, Jeff S., he who designed my yard 15
November 17, 2015
37 Comments
Category: Gardening
Gardening
How To Grow Your First Rose Garden, 13 Simple And Somewhat Philosophical Steps
The other day I Googled “grow your first rose garden.” The results made me want to quit, right now, despite my bed of 8 happy
October 22, 2015
54 Comments
Gardening
Plant Of Desire: Pieris Japonica, Occasionally Known As “Mountain Fire Lily Of The Valley”
For the most part, I prefer my garden to my plants. I’d rather plant something I find boring by itself, for garden design, than a
September 25, 2015
13 Comments
Gardening
The Colors Of A Coastal Southern Californian Garden
I went down to see my mother and stepfather this weekend. Although I’ve shown you most of her house (here, here, here), I thought some
September 17, 2015
44 Comments
Gardening
Putting A California Garden To Bed In Late Summer
Snow does not fall in my back yard. The last time it snowed, and hit the ground and remained, was probably 1960. So the seasons
September 3, 2015
44 Comments
Gardening
A DIY Project For Really Lazy People With A Sense Of Humor Who Like Beauty
It’s hard for me to finish projects that involve working with my hands. Because, impatient. Because, bad small motor skills. But perseverance, humor, and community work miracles.
July 28, 2015
36 Comments
Gardening
Object of Desire: One Fuchsia In A Pot
Fuchsias. First of all, notice the spelling. Fuch-See-Ya. Even though it’s pronounced Fyusha. One of the most frequently misspelled words in the English language. Second,
July 16, 2015
33 Comments
Gardening
In Northern California, It’s Hydrangea O’Clock
America’s collective consciousness knows the crocus, emerging from snow. We wallow in roses and peonies, come summer. And hydrangeas? In my part of California, the time is now. Drought brings burn.
June 25, 2015
40 Comments
Gardening
A Pair Of Crocs For Every Doorstep
This is my front entry. Old school doormat from our local hardware store, basic Crocs. Minimalist, with a little earthy texture for good measure. And in
June 18, 2015
42 Comments
Gardening
When Weather Got Scary, Or, Saturday Morning at 8:56am
This is my front lawn. I’m letting it die. Northern California is dry. Actually, so’s the whole state, but that’s a lot of acreage and I
June 6, 2015
43 Comments
A Visit To The California Estate Of Filoli, Complete With Family Dreams Of Wendover
Last weekend, I visited Filoli, a Northern Californian turn-of-last-century estate. Well-known, much-visited, somehow I’d never made the trip. A reader of this blog was living
May 28, 2015
61 Comments
Gardening
The Serenity Of Flowering Dogwood
3-2-1, cue month of online fawning over peonies. I always want to boycott. I cast no aspersions on preferences – peonies just seem too blowsy,
May 22, 2015
35 Comments